Immunisation of adolescents is as important as immunisation of children as nowadays the immunity of adolescents is also declining, leading to complications among them, Dr CP Bansal said.

Immunisation of adolescents for diseases should be made compulsory in the state, said Dr CP Bansal, national president, Indian Academy of Paediatrics (IAP), on Sunday, while addressing a workshop on adolescent health.

Immunisation of adolescents is as important as immunisation of children as nowadays the immunity of adolescents is also declining, leading to complications among them, Dr Bansal said.

Immunisation protects a child from diseases but it does not increase natural immunity. The effectiveness of immunisation done during childhood comes down with age, he said.

“The effectiveness of immunisation in children becomes less when they become 12 years old. It is important to get vaccinated during adolescence,” Dr Bansal said.

The doctor said children of the age group 10 to 18 should be vaccinated for diseases. The health department of the state should introduce free immunisation for adolescents also, he said.

Dr Bansal said immunisation of adolescents for diseases like measles, mumps and rubella (MMR), cervical cancer, typhoid, hepatitis is necessary.

Dr Praveen Mittal, president of Gwalior chapter of IAP, said nowadays, adolescents are also having high blood pressure. Doctors should not only measure blood measure of adults but also start taking blood pressure of youngsters, he said.

Adolescent counsellor Dr Jagmeet Chawla pointed out that it is in the norms of Central Board of Secondary Education ( CBSE) that every CBSE affiliated school must appoint a counsellor.

Dr Chawla said cases of obesity are rising among adolescent girls and the most important reason is poor lifestyle.

Less exercise and junk food are responsible for the rise in obesity cases, the counsellor said.